Future Focus 034: Jenny Kwon, Joya Mooi, Kilter, Okkaido
Words by Luke Byatt
Welcome to Future Focus, an editorial series providing a personable glimpse into some of best music releasing in the scene. Future Focus 034 features the diverse and vibrant sounds of Jenny Kwon, Joya Mooi, Kilter, and Okkaido.
Jenny Kwon - are you even thinking about me?
Hailing from LA, Jenny Kwon is one of the city’s up and coming Neo Soul and R&B acts. The release of ‘are you even thinking about me?’ is a testament to the young musician’s artistry.
‘are you even thinking about me?’ taps into the the core emotive themes of love and relationships synonymous with R&B and Neo Soul. The affectional aura imbued throughout the single is propelled forward by the stimulating lyrical display.The dreamy soundscape fuses seamlessly with Jenny Kwon’s sensuous vocal delivery. A lo-fi music video accompanies ‘are you even thinking about me?’, perfectly encompassing the track in a visual format.
With more music on the way Jenny Kwon is certainly someone to watch.
Joya Mooi - More Than Ever
Pulled from her latest EP, Joya Mooi’s ‘More Than Ever’ is a work of art.
Released on Blossom Carefully, ‘More Than Ever’ encompassed the body of work within a masterful three minute duration. Joya Mooi morphs lavish electronica with the emotion rich aspects of R&B, resulting in a record that blossoms with the best of both genres. The ethereal vocal performance captures the feelings of gratitude and the track’s core motifs of practicing serenity.
Be sure to check out Joya Mooi’s ‘More Than Ever’ on the Blossom Carefully EP.
“Normally when I create I tend to reflect on the past but for my EP I wanted to connect to go somewhere I haven’t been. Drawing inspiration from spiritual, social and political themes and personal stories, but mostly my own imagination in order to envision my wishes for the future. On Blossom Carefully I feel like I have constructed a reality where I can be free.”
Joya Mooi (Facebook)
Kilter - Friction (Feat. JessB)
Known for his forward thinking take on electronic music, Kilter has returned with ‘Friction’ featuring renowned New Zealand MC JessB.
With over 40M streams across his catalogue as well as remixes for Duke Dumont, Jax Jones and Rufus Du Sol, Kilter is a mainstay in the electronic music community. The release of ‘Friction’ is a sensational addition to the Sydney act’s prosperous collection. The high energy production blends house, hip hop and eclectic electronica into a delightful dance affair. The addition of JessB’s infectious vocals results in the delivery of a record that transcends genre bounds.
There’s a reason that Kilter is at the top of the Aussie dance space, and I can’t wait to hear more!
“In the back end of 2019, I had been playing a bunch of club shows and wanted to make a super-heated record for these sets. Jess and I jumped in the studio while she was in town for Laneway Festival and Club Quarantine took care of the rest.”
Kilter by Maclay Heriot
Okkaido - It Makes Me Ill
Know for his progressive Hip Hop vibes, Okkaido returns with ‘It Makes Me Ill’.
Leading the charge in Australian hip hop, ‘It Make Me Ill’ is undoubtably one of Okkaido’s strongest releases. From the opening moments, strong poetic lyricism is exhibited by the Sydney based creative. The infectious flow of the ‘It Make Me Ill’ morphs with the 90s hip hop production bed, while fluid elements bring things into the 21st century. The expressive nature of the record is raw yet fresh; an insight to what to expect moving into the future from Okkaido.
With a promise of more music on the way Okkaido is here to stay.
Okkaido (Facebook)